The work for Shillong-Dawki road project has stalled at Pynursla due to objections raised by local people.
This was stated by the National Highway Infrastructure Development Corporation (NHIDCL) through an affidavit filed before the division bench of Meghalaya High Court here today.
According to the affidavit, the alignment for Shillong-Dawki road project (Package-III) is under finalisation and preparation of detailed project report is under process.
The NHIDCL also stated that the alignment of Pynursla bypass could not be finalised due to objections raised by local people.
Additional Advocate General K Khan who appeared on behalf of the State government sought three weeks’ time to find out the feasibility of settling the issue amicably with the local villagers.
At his request, the High Court posted the matter for hearing on February 26.
The 90 km Shillong-Dawki road project has five packages. The road project which includes construction of a four-lane road from Umshyrpi to Umtyngngar has been embroiled in serious difficulties and has seen contractors pull out.
Work in four packages has started as new contractors have been engaged to execute the work.
The work relating to the first package from Umshyrpi to Mylliem has now been allotted to a new contractor New India Contractors-BCC (joint venture) in the last week of September, 2023 after the original contractor had abandoned the project.
One of the serious bottlenecks of the project (first package) at Lai Mer in Upper Shillong has been resolved as the Indian Institute of Geomagnetism (IIG) has agreed to relocate its instrument and equipment to a plot of land allotted by the State government. The State government has also agreed to bear the expenses for the relocation.
A portion of land belonging to the IIG has been given to the State government for widening of the road. The rest of the land would be used by IIG for administrative office and residential purposes.
The work on the first package, which includes a proposed flyover from Umshyrpi to Anjalee point and Jhalupara on the Shillong-Guwahati road would commence soon.
The Shillong-Dawki road project, funded by the Japanese International Cooperation Agency (JICA) at an estimated cost of Rs 1377.5 crore, has already missed its completion deadline of December 2022 due to issues of land acquisition, forest clearance and delay to shift power lines and water pipelines.
